|
PR
No. 179 The heading of the Bill Varner news item is self explanatory in the first four paragraphs where the Ambassador has said that “Pakistan is unlikely to take steps to address the security and judicial failures detailed in a report on the assassination of former PM Benazir Bhutto... in the last sixty years nothing is ever taken to conclusion....we had great trauma in Pakistan that did not lead to reform”, says a press release received here today from New York. This is a question of police/judicial reforms that he raised, while the heading is misleading and not reflective of what was asked and in that context answered by the ambassador. The report is further described by the Ambassador as “a very clean factual picture that was well conceived, well written and well intentioned.” Nowhere has the Ambassador derogated the report or its contents nor has he even remotely suggested its findings regarding the late Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto’s assassination would be ignored or not pursued further or not be acted upon as suggested by some of the media in Pakistan . The Ambassadors principled stand since the assassination has been to recently pursue the matter at the UN and is acknowledged in the Commission report . The report gives the solid foundation and the backing of the International community for the criminal matter now to be raised and taken to its final conclusion. The last paragraph of the Bill Varner story is incorrect in as much that the Ambassador spoke of the need to help rebuild the shattered economy through opening Textile export to USA and by helping us promote and build our energy shortfall through coal generating energy plants by the USA, etc. He ended by taking a quote from the bible that “if you teach a people how to fish they will not go hungry.” The Ambassador firmly believes that this matter from the Bible holds good for all of mankind. Many times in the UN he has quoted it to take attention towards capacity building in all socio economic spheres as more important and pertinent than just aid which has long term repercussions. Help the world fend for itself so it is capable and not dependent, is a principle of belief for the Ambassador. **MJI/Ahmad**
PR No. 180 The signing ceremony of the Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment Bill will be held in the Presidency tomorrow on Monday April 19. Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar said that President Asif Ali Zardari telephoned Sunday morning PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Shairif and invited him to witness the ceremony.
**FU/Ahmad**
The Prime Minister’s visit to Paris, Brussels and Madrid has been called-off due to civil aviation crises resulting from the volcanic eruptions in Iceland and dense ash-clouds covering European atmosphere. The visit will be rescheduled at an appropriate time in consultation with the European Union Secretariat and the governments of France and Spain. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani was supposed to leave tomorrow for bilateral visit to France followed by Pakistan-European Union Summit in Brussels. The bilateral visit to Spain was the last stop before returning to Islamabad.
PR No. 182 “The National Judicial Conference gives benefit in terms of exchange and shring of experiences and knowledge” said, the Hon’ble Chief Justice Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, while addressing the different Bar Associations, namely, Hairpur Bar Association, headed by its president, Sardar Abdur Rauf and Zhobe District Bar Association, headed by its president, Mr. Samad Khan Mandokhel, who called on his lordship today i.e. 18.04.2010 in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Islamabad. Addressing the delegations Hon’ble Chief Justice Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said, “I am thankful to all of you for your participation in this three-day National Judicial Conference 2010 and making it a success.” The delegation appreciated struggles and efforts of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry for organizing such a Judicial Conference on national level to provide a platform to all the stakeholders to put their heads together to resolve the issues relating to judiciary. Furthermore, the delegation assured full support and cooperation to the Hon’ble Chief Justice to realize his lordship dream of providing quick and cheap justice to people at their doorsteps.
PR
No. 183 In pursuance of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani’s directive a two day’s energy summit (19 – 20 April, 2010) opens on Monday in Islamabad to finalize a concrete roadmap to tide over existing energy crisis. The summit shall be joined by all Provincial Chief Ministers, Provincial Power Ministers, Minister for Petroleum, Advisor to PM on Finance and other relevant Cabinet members. The summit’s proposed framework is built around serious deliberations on need for power generation and capacity additions in thermal, hydro, renewable and solar sectors. What Prime Minister has been pleased to direct on Friday 16th April 2010 is a diagnostic study of Pakistan’s power sector in terms of generation issues, distribution related impediments, upgrading management techniques, resolving circular debt, improving oil and gas provision which serves as vital factor to enhancing generation capacity. Equal importance is being assigned to develop a consensus on a variety of conservation measures for which a rational plan shall be discussed. The energy summit would equally focus optimizing existing power projects’ capacities, diversification of gas to power sector, resolution of debt, widening fuel base, better management focusing plant efficiency, minimizing transmission losses, expanding thermal, coal and hydel capacities in order to facilitate the domestic, commercial and industrial consumers. It is understood that Prime Minister has taken the notice of mass public protests in various cities against load shedding by expressing concern and directing the energy sector stakeholders to maximize their efforts for resolution. It may be added that Ministry of Water and Power has developed an institutional consensus to be part of the solution – instead of going back to the problem bequeathed by the previous non-democratic regime. It is presumed that circular debt issue would also form a major part of energy summits’ diagnostic study in order to reach a stable financial solution. The government has also planned fast tracking thermal and hydel energy projects by allocating necessary budgetary resources besides launching an energy conservation drive as part of all public and private sector stakeholders’ corporate social responsibility. The energy summit would also take into account how best to avoid unannounced load shedding and follow a rational load management schedule to reduce public hardship. What is likely to be considered for recommendations is the vital factor of Captive Power Plants and other sugar mill owners’ support for capacity additions that would also be taken into account to reach a policy decision in order to add more power to national grid.
The morning and evening sessions of energy summit are likely
to receive detailed presentations and deliberations from WAPDA, PEPCO,
AEDB, KESC and other provincial government stakeholders that are geared to
move towards pre-final recommendations at the end of Monday session. The
second day session (Tuesday) has been dedicated to presentations by ADB,
World Bank and others for a diagnostic analysis of what ails
Pakistan’s power sector.
Way forward for a sustainable power sector in Pakistan is the actual goal
of two day energy summit that shall be opened by Minister for Water and
Power through a welcome address leading to final recommendations at the
end of second day and most probably a press briefing for external sharing.
PR
No. 184 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has directed the Managing Director, PIA that as soon the flights to Europe and USA are restored, first preference should be given to the Pakistani students and those Pakistanis working in various foreign firms abroad. The students, he said have to join their educational institutions while those working in foreign firms could loose their jobs. It needs to be mentioned that a number of Pakistani students and those working in foreign firms abroad were visiting Pakistan on Easter holidays and got stuck-up because of cancellation of flights to Europe and beyond.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
